MODULE 2

OUTCOME 2 BE ABLE TO PRESENT A LITERATURE REVIEW.

2.1 Conduct research to find literature relevant to the research
question.
The literature review includes a number of areas that have bearing on the
topic of both collaboration and the factors that lead to collaboration. The
studies are primarily focused on the application of collaboration in the
business environment. The literature reviews was instrumental in
formulating the question that were then covered in the questionnaire.
There are multiple aspects to the requirement to the successful
collaboration. The literature review is divided into four areas:
i. First area covers the relationship factors that are supportive of the
collaborative effort. The intent is to provide an insight into both how
relationships are perceived and measured, and impact of these
relationships on long term efforts.
ii. The second area covers the selection factors that are necessary at the
time of entering into a collaborative agreement. The importance of
ensuring the correct partner for a value effort is highlighted in the
literature and what the organizations should be aware of when deciding
on partners.
iii. The third area is the cultural environment and its effect on collaborative
efforts. The purpose was to understand if some of the organizational
and country culture aspects have affected the ability to successfully
collaborate.
iv. Finally, the area of collaboration itself is covered in the literature, under
various names, and the important aspects of collaboration are
investigated to understand the environmental factors surrounding and
the drivers behind entering into a collaborative effort.
2.2 Undertake a critical review of the key literature for inclusion
in a research proposal
A literature review is an objective, thorough summary and critical analysis
of the relevant available research and non-Patricia Cronin, Frances Ryan,
Michael Coughlan research literature on the topic being studied (Hart,
1998).
Purpose of literature review: Its purpose of literature review is to bring
the reader up-to-date with current literature on a topic and form the basis
for another goal, such as the justification for future research in the area. A
good literature review gathers information about a particular subject from
many sources. It is well written and contains few if any personal biases. It
should contain a clear search and selection strategy (Carnwell and Daly,
2001). Good structuring is essential to enhance the flow and readability of
the review. Accurate use of terminology is important and jargon should be
kept to a minimum. Referencing should be accurate throughout (Colling,
2003).

Selecting a review topic can be a challenging task for students and novice
reviewers (Timmins and McCabe, 2005). A common error for novices is to
select a review title that is all encompassing, such as pressure ulcers or
pain. Although this may be a useful initial strategy for determining how
much literature is available, subjects such as these generate a
considerable amount of data making a review infeasible. Therefore, it is
advisable to refine this further so that the final amount of information
generated is manageable.
For example, to focus the topic of interest, consider what aspects of
pressure ulcers or pain are of particular significance. Is there a specific
element of this topic that is of interest, such as prevention or
management? Identifying what exactly is of interest and why can help
refine the topic (Hendry and Farley, 1998). Talking to others, such as
clinical specialists, or reading around a topic can also help to identify what
areas of the subject the reviewer is interested in and may help indicate
how much information exists on the topic (Timmins and McCabe, 2005).
Having sufficient literature is also important, particularly when the review
is an academic assignment. These academic exercises usually have short
deadlines, so having enough literature is key from the perspective of
being able to do the review and submit it on time. Attempting to change
the topic close to the deadline for submission is usually a recipe for
disaster so select an area that will hold your interest and ensure that there
is enough data to meet your needs. Literature reviews that are part of
academic course work usually have strictly enforced word limits and it is
important to adhere to that limit. Topics that are too broad will result in
reviews that are either too long or too superficial. As a rule of thumb, it is
better to start with a narrow and focused topic, and if necessary broaden
the scope of the review as you progress. It is much more difficult to cut
content successfully, especially if time is short.